The magnificent desert surrounding Eilat offers an abundances of attractions: hiking trails and climbing routes through the boundless expanse that is fun to discover in many different ways. If you're looking for fun, sports-based activities coupled with enchanting vistas, we recommend you go outside the city and discover the wondrous desert.
Eilat Jeep Rides
Several Eilat vendors specialize in Jeep tours of the Eilat Mountains and the desert region close to the city. Jeep rides into the desert are usually done with a licensed tour guide who provides detailed explanations about the region's history, landscape, vegetation, and so on. Tours can be adapted to any visitor's needs and likes. Many providers offer desert Jeep rides for the whole family. During the ride, it's always possible to stop to picnic in nature or observe desert animals in their natural habitat. What you cannot avoid is falling in love with the enchanted nature and landscapes of the desert outside Eilat.
ATVs and UTVs in Eilat
Renting ATVs or UTVs provides another fun way to discover the desert's hidden nooks and crannies and the mountains enveloping the city, while having a great time and building group cohesion. Several vendors in Eilat rent out ATVs and UTVs, and some companies lead guided excursions in which participants ride behind an experienced tour guide.
Treks in Eilat
The Eilat Mountains are ideal for trekking and climbing some formidable elevations to peaks that offer breathtaking landscapes of Eilat and the Red Sea. A favorite route for climbers is the one going up Mount Solomon, followed by a descent to the Netafim riverbed and spring, the biggest spring in the entire Arava Valley. There are literally dozens of hiking and walking trails near Eilat during which visitors can enjoy riventing landscapes, wadis, desert vegetation, and much, much more.
Rappelling in Eilat
The Eilat Mountains offer many high outcroppings ideal for a challenging bout of rappelling in the breathtaking natural beauty of the desert. The activity is suited to both experienced rappellers and beginners who've never done any rappelling before. Rappelling is a wonderful team building exercise and also way for individuals to face their own challenges and difficulties. All rappelling is done with maximal attention to the visitors' safety. Several vendors lead nature excursions into the desert that incorporate canyoning, climbing lessons, and rappelling for beginners.
Camel Riding in Eilat
One of the best ways to enjoy an authentic, calm desert experience is by riding the animal best identified with the desert. A camel ride allows visitors an effortless experience through the Eilat Mountains and the boundless desert. This activity is suitable to groups and families, and is sure to be the capstone adventure to any sort of vacation in the city. Eilat has camel stables offering short camel rides at the farm as well as camel caravan trips through the dry river beds outside the city. For couples, we recommend a sunset camel ride for two – an unforgettable romantic experience.
Biking in Eilat
The bike is a wonderful way of moving through the city. Not only do you get a workout, you also get to enjoy the magnificant views all around. Surrounding the city is one of Israel's most beloved biking trails. At a length of 21 km, it starts at the northernmost shore of the Red Sea and passes important Eilat landmarks, including the Eilat Birding Center, Holland Park with Eilat's oasis forest, and the enchanted coral reef, where the trail ends. Fans of off-road biking can leave the city and enjoy a range of desert biking trails at Timna Park, the Shehoret Canyon, and many other nearby locations.
The Eilat Desert Marathon
Since 2010, Eilat has hosted its annual Eilat Desert Marathon, an international event attracting thousands of runners and sports enthusiasts from all over the world to compete along one of the most beautiful and unique marathons routes anywhere on planet Earth. The Eilat Desert Marathon combines the mesmerizing views of desert nature with the enchanting vistas of the Red Sea. Not only does it event satisfy the runners' competitive spirit, it also provides great visual pleasure to every participant. The Desert Marathon actually consists of four sporting events: a full marathon (42.2 km), a half marathon (21.1 km), and two short city runs of 10 and 5 km respectively. The Eilat Desert Marathon takes place over three fun-filled days: exhibition day with easy sports activities for the whole family; the day of the run, including the celebratory party that night; and a day of relaxation after the run, including yoga and swimming.
